Poster exhibiting device



E. D. BRANZELL POSTER EXHIBITING DEVICE Dec. 19, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Fe"). 27, 1950 INVENTOR E. D. RANZ Dec. 19, 1950 E. D. BRANZELL2,534,851

POSTER EXHIBITING DEVICE Filed Feb. 27, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTORE. D. BRANZELL Deco 19, 1950 E. D. 'BRANZELL 2,534,351

POSTER EXHIBITING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 27, 1950 5 l9INVENTOR /2 E D. BRANZELL 4 .0 2 'WFM Patented Dec. 19, 1950 UNITEDSTATES r'os'rnn Exnnsrrme DEVICE Edward Ilianiel Branzell, Superior,Wis., assignor to Barnes-Duluth Shipbuilding Company, Du-

lath, Minn.

Application February 27, 1950 Serial No. 146,614

4 Claims.

This invention relates to exhibiting devices and has special referenceto a device for displaying a plurality of cards or posters in sequence.

' One of the principal objects of my invention is to provide a simpleand relatively inexpensive device for displaying a sequence ofadvertising material.

Another object is to provide an efficient means for operating andcontrolling a display device.

Another more specific object is to provide a plurality of slides orgrooves in which posters or cards are carried, means to retain theposters in display position, and means to remove the poster from displayposition to reveal another poster.

A still further object is to provide simple and efficient means forreturning all posters to their starting or display positionsimultaneously.

Other objects are to provide quiet operation for a display device, andto provide poster holders which permit ready change of display material.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent as thedescription of my invention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part f this application:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the housing or cabinet for my exhibitingdevice with the top cover slid back to show parts of the device.

Fig. 2 is a iragmental perspective view of one form of poster returnmeans.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the poster return traveler shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an end view of Fi 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmental elevation view of the device shown in Fig. 1,showing another form of poster return means.

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing a diiferent poster return means.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the pawl device employed in the posterreturn means shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on theline 9-9, Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a broken plan view of a poster holding frame.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line Hl I, Fig. 1.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the poster release mechanism.

Fig. 13 is an end view of the poster release mechanism.

In the drawing the reference numeral I indicates the base member of thecabinet of my device, which may be provided with casters if (Cl. dil 79)desired; The numerals 2-2 indicate opposed side members on standards ofthe chassis of the device they being fixed to and upstanding from thebase 2 adjacent each outer end thereof. Intermediate the upright membersof the chassis a shelf-like member 3 is secured, preferably parallelwith the base member as shown. This structure provides the chassis orframe for-my device.

A housing 3 is provided of any suitable design, to enclose the chassisand working parts of the exhibiting device, the housing having a sightopening 5 in the front face thereof, the'opening being preferably of anextent to include subst'an tially the entire upper half of the housingor cabinet, as shown.

A plurality of vertically disposed parallel grooves or channels 5 areprovided in either the standards 2, or in a suitable piece of materialsecured to the standards. These grooves 6' are in opposed alined pairs,they extend fromv the upper end of the device to adjacent the bottomthereof, and are the slides or channels in which the poster holders 1are carried and operated, one holder to each opposed pair of grooves orchannels, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and II of the drawings. 1''" Theposter holders comprise a rectangular frame of suitable size to carry"posters 8 to" fill the sight opening 5, they being of a suitable uniformthickness so as to be freely slidable vertically in the channels orgrooves t in which they are carried. The holders may be madefrom sheetsof metal having the edges thereof turned over to provide poster holdingmeans, in which event, the edges would be cut away as at Sf'to permitposters to be inserted and removed readily. Or, if desired, the posterholders. may comprise a rectangular frame, not shown, fabricated fromstrips of metal folded longitudinally to a close U-shape cross section,and then formed to "a rectangular frame. The main considerationfinregards to the holders 1 is that they be able to hold a poster or card,and that they slide freely in the" channels 6 in which they are carried.

The sight opening i5 is in the upper portion of the housing or cabinetof the device, and, the posters or cards are normally held, in their re,spective slides, opposite the sight opening, and the foremost poster isvdropped from view to ex pose the next poster after the said foremostpost.- er has been exposed to view for a predetermined time interval.When the second poster has been exposed for a predetermined timeinterval, iti s dropped from view to expose the third poster,

3 and so on, until all posters have been exhibited. The posters aredropped so that they are hidden from view behind the lower front portionof the cabinet or housing, of course.

The means for holding the posters in their upper or normal position andfor releasing the posters in sequence at the desired time, is clearlydisclosed in Figs. 6, 11, 12, and 13 of the drawings.

The numeral 10 indicates the reciprocable stops or slides which hold theposters up and which are moved to release the posters. As shown, theseslides are elongated thin members which extend through the frame memberwhich has the channels or grooves 6 therein, one slide being providedfor each of the grooves 6. The slides are mounted in suitable openings Il in the frame of the device, and have a slot [2 longitudinally thereinto receive a holding pin l3 to keep them in place and to permit them tobe reciprocated into and from their respective channels 6. As seen inFig. 12 the slides l extend into the channels 6 so that one corner ofthe poster holder rests thereon. The poster holders, being of a size toslide within the channels 6 and being quite large in height and width,are held in their upper or normal position by the slides 10 engagingonly one corner thereof. The very slight tip that is imparted to theposter by this holding means is not noticeable to the eye, and theposters are prevented from slipping or falling until their appointedtime.

'one direction, and with a spring which biases the stops into theirrespective channels.

A timing device is provided to operate the slides at predeterminedintervals, and the timing device here shown includes a small electricmotor 16 which is of the slow speed type, or which is geared down toslow speed. The motor drives a shaft I! at the desired speed, the shafthaving a timing wheel l8 thereon adjacent the slides, which is rotatedby the shaft. A plurality of lugs is are provided on one face of thewheel l8 to extend over the stops. The lugs are arranged adjacent theperiphery of the wheel and are of progressively increasing length sothat the shortest lug will engage the finger M of the slides whichcontrols the outermost poster as the timing wheel is rotated. The nextlug will engage the finger I4 of the slide for the second poster, and soon. As the lugs engage their respective fingers I4, they push againstthe latter and pull the slide out of the grOOve or channel 6 a distancesufficient to release the poster and let it drop, by gravitation, out ofsight. The posters position in the channel will keep the stop inoutermost position, of course when the poster is down. Each of theslides is operated in a similar manner, the time interval beingcontrolled by the speed of rotation of the shaft and timing wheel. Thespeed normally will be about one r. p. m. to give the posters thedesired exhibition period.

It may be readily seen from the above that, starting with all posters inuppermost exhibiting position, each may be dropped from viewsuccessively, from front to rear, until all of the posters are in theirlowermost position. It will be desirable to provide a stationary poster41 at the rear of the slidable posters so that even when the lastmovable posters is dropped, there will still be some advertising, or thelike, on exhibit. It may readily be seen that simple means may beprovided to change the indicia of the last or stationary exhibit.

To bring the posters back to normal or standing position after they haveall been exhibited and dropped from view, I employ a switch 20,preferably a microswitch, having an operating spring or lever 2|. Theswitch 20 is positioned adjacent the shaft I! so that a crank arm 22extending from, and rotated by the shaft, will engage the lever to tripthe switch once on each rotation of the shaft. The timing arrangement issuch that the switch 20 is tripped after the last movable poster hasbeen dropped and the stationary poster has been exhibited its desiredtime interval.

The microswitch so completes an electrical circuit to the motor 23 whichis carried on the member 3 which extends between the standards 2-2. Themotor has a long shaft 24, and a pair of flexible cables 25 are securedto the shaft so that as the motor rotates, the cables are wound on theshaft. The cables extend through an opening 26 in the member 3, and arerove over a pulley 21 adjacent the bottom of the cabinet or housing,then are brought back up from the pulley and are fastened to the member3 adjacent the opening 25. The pulley is rotatably carried by a yoke ortraveler 21, the traveler being carried and guided by a guide post 28which is fixed vertically between the base I and the member 3, as shown.Obviously, as the motor rotates, the cables are wound on the shaft 24,and the pulley and traveler are slid or pulled upwardly on the guidepost 28, the posters are also lifted or carried up and brought back tonormal position. As the posters are raised slightly above the level ofthe slides Hi, the slides spring back into their respective channels 6and prevent the posters from falling down until released by the slides.Obviously the guide post should be of a cross section other than roundso that the traveler will not turn on the post.

A microswitch 30 is positioned adjacent the upper end of the post 28 sothat the traveler will engage its operating lever and trip same to breakthe motor circuit and stop the latter. As soon as the motor circuit isopen, the weight of the traveler will unwind the cable from the shaft 24and return the traveler to normal position adjacent the base I of thehousing to be ready to bring the posters back up to their normalposition for the next cycle.

Suitable cushioning means is provided for breaking the fall of theposters and to eliminate objectionable noise, this means preferablybeing a layer of sponge rubber 3!, the cushion being so placed that thefoot 28 will extend under the posters and not bear the weight thereofuntil the motor 23 is started to bring the posters up to normalposition.

We now have a complete operative unit, and to change posters thereon, Ihave made the top member 32 slidable so that it may be moved back, orrearwardly, to expose the channels 8 and the posters. It may readily beseen that the posters, and holders, ma be removed at will, and newposters inserted in their place.

Changing posters does not affect the operation of the device, andomitting a poster in one of the sets of channels will not upset theoperation of the device. In the latter case, the poster following theempty space is merely exposed a double time interval. This feature maybe very desirable in exhibiting posters which carr more indicia than canbe absorbed in the ordinary time interval or where emphasis is to begiven one particular poster.

In Figs. 6 and 11, and in Figs. 7, 8, and 9,1 have shown modified formsof poster return means. The device shown in Figs. 6 and 11 comprises amotor 33, which drives a reduction gear arrangement 34, the motor beingstarted by the switch 28. An arm is rotated by the motor and geararrangement in the path shown in dotted lines, and a foot 36 is carriedby the arm and extends under the posters to carry the latter up tonormal position as the arm is rotated. A micro switch 44 is provided tostop the motor and arm when it reaches its lowermost position.

In Figs. '7, 8 and 9, a motor 3'! is actuated by the switch 20 to drivea reverse screw 38, through a reduction gear arrangement 39, the screw38 extending vertically from the base i to the memher 3, as shown. Atraveler S8 is carried on the screw, and has a pawl 41 which rides thescrew thread to bring the traveler up and down the screw. A foot 42 isprovided on the traveler to extend under the posters and carry them upto normal position. A guide post 43 is provided to prevent the travelerfrom turning on the screw. A micro switch l5 stops the motor when thetraveler has returned to its lowermost position.

A fluorescent light may be provided at the upper edge of the sightopening to illuminate the posters, and a, shield or reflector 46provided for directing the light on the posters.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A poster exhibiting device comprising a chassis, a plurality ofperpendicularly arranged channels carried in said chassis, said channelsbeing arnanged in spaced opposed pairs, a plurality of verticallyreciprocably carried posters within said channels, a plurality ofreciprocable slides extending through portions of said chassis into saidchannels under one corner of said posters to hold same in theiruppermost position, and means to release said slides at predeterminedintervals to permit said posters to drop from their uppermost positionsuccessively from front to rear.

2. A poster exhibiting device comprising a, chassis; a plurality ofchannels arranged in said channels arranged in said chassis inperpendicular, spaced, opposed pairs; a plurality of posters verticallyreciprocably carried in said pairs of channels; a plurality of slidesextending into said channels under one corner of said posters to holdsame in their uppermost position, said slides being placed insubstantially parallel side by side relationship, and a timing device torelease said slides successively from front to rear to drop said postersin said channels, said timing device comprising a shaft, means to rotatesaid shaft, a timing wheel on said shaft, said wheel being insubstantial alinement with and adjacent to the foremost one of saidslides, and a plurality of lugs projecting from said wheel transverselyover said slides, said lugs being spaced about the periphery of saidwheel and of progressively longer lengths so as to engage said slidessuccessively from front to rear as said Wheel is rotated by said shaft.

3. A poster exhibiting device comprising a chassis; a plurality ofchannels arranged in said chassis in spaced, opposed, perpendicularpairs; a plurality of posters vertically reciprocabl carried in saidpairs of channels, means to hold said posters in their uppermostposition in said channels, means to release said posters to drop intheir respective channels successively from front to rear, and means toreturn said posters to their uppermost position after all have beendropped comprising, a motor, a shaft rotatable by said motor, cablessecured to said shaft to be wound thereon, a pulley, said cables beingrove around said pulley and fastened at their otherwise free end to saidchassis adjacent said motor, a traveler, said pulley being carried bysaid traveler, and means extending from said traveler under said posterswhereby when said motor is operated, said traveler is lifted up carryingsaid posters therewith by means of said cables being wound on said motorshaft.

4. A poster exhibiting device comprising a chassis, a plurality ofperpendicularly arranged channels carried in said chassis, said channelsbeing arranged in spaced opposed pairs, a plurality of verticallyreciprocably carried posters within said channels, a plurality ofreciprocable slides extending through portions of said chassis into saidchannels under one corner of said posters to hold same in theiruppermost position, and means to release said slides at predeterminedintervals to permit said posters to drop from their uppermost positionsuccessively from front to rear, said means comprising a timing wheel,and a, plurality of lugs extending from said wheel over said slides,each of said lugs being adapted to engage and reciprocate one of saidslides to release one of said posters.

EDWARD DANIEL BRANZELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 367,861 Smith Aug. 9, 1887391,568 Waters Oct. 23, 1888 729,111 Adams May 26, 1903 1,711,528Gureuvich et a1. May '7, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date340,907 Great Britain Aug. 9, 1887

